Square.



L. W. COLE.

SQUARE. APPLICATION FI'LED MAR.29, 1909.

Patented Jan. 9, 1912.

r Y y l/// ,www W @1T SATES LLEWELLYN W. COLE, OF SOUTH SHAFTSBURY, VERMONT, ASSIGNOR TO EAGLE SQUARE MANUFACTURING COMPANY,

CORPORATION OF VERMONT.

OF SOUTH SHAFTSBURY, VERMONT, A

SQUARE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 9, 19121.

Application led March 29, 1909. Serial No. 486,370.

n scribed and subsequently claimed.

Reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, and the reference characters marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. Similar characters refer to similar parts in the several figures therein.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a plan View of the corner-portion of a carpenters square embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the same taken on the broken line 2 2 in Fig. 1. l Fig. 3 is al side view of the tioating-key whereby the separable members of the square are held together. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section taken on the broken line 4`4 in Fig.. 2. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the tongue-member of the square detached. Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-section taken on the broken line 6-6 in Fig. 1.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple, eiiicient, and readily released locking-mechanism for holding together the separable tongue and body-members of a carpenters square.

Other objects of the invention will appear in connection with the following description.

Referring to the drawings wherein the invention is shown in preferred form, 1, represents the body and, 2, the tongue of the square. One end of the body is provided with a recess, 3, open on one side to receive the tang, 4, on the inner end of the tongue, 2, of the square. The recess, 3, -is preferably formed by mortising the inner end of the body of the square, and closing, on both sides of the outer corner of the body of the square, said mortise by inserting between the side-walls, 5, of the body so formed a filling-block, 6, rigidly secured in position by rivets, 7, inserted therethrough and through said walls. The bottom, 8, of the recess thus formed is preferably made crooked, and may be so made crooked in any known manner, as by any interruption or variation in the straight continuity of its surface. As shown, the bottom of said recess forms a rentrant anglo therein. The end of the inserted block, 6, adjacent to the open end of the recess, 3, is inwardly beveled "as shown at, 9, and the tang-portion of the tongue is formed with a beveled outer side-edge portion, 11, adapted to abut upon the beveled edge, 9, of said inserted piece, 6 and with a crooked inner side-edge, 12, adapted to conform to the crooked or irregular portion of the bottoni-wall, S, of the recess 3. The tongue, 2, is provided with shoulders at, 10, adapted to abut upon the side-edges of the side-walls, 5, of said recess. The inserted piece, 6, which forms the top of said recess, 3, is provided with a chamber, 13, open to said recess and adapted to receive the floating-key, 14, of oblong form adapted in one position to be wholly contained within said chamber, and in another position to project therefrom into said recess, 3, while in engagement with the outer wall of the chamber 13. The tang, 4, of the tongue has an outer side-edge portion, 15, substantially parallel with the side-edges of the tongue, and adapted, when the tang is fully inserted within the recess, 8, to lie in close proximity to the open end of the chamber, 13, in the path of the floating-key, 14, when rotated.

The floating-key, 14, is adapted to receive an operating tool, whereby said key can be rotated, as by providing said key with an angular aperture, 16, into which an angular tool can be inserted, and one or each of the side-walls,5, of the body of the square is provided with an aperture, 17, through which such a tool can beV freely inserted. The apertures, 17, are smaller in area than the chamber, 13; and the open end of the chamber, 13, where it communicates with the recess, 3, is of less width than the shorter diameter of the floating-key,-14, so that escape of the floating-key from the chamber is prevented, while said key is left free to assume a locking position when rotated, whereby it is tightly wedged between the outer wall of the chamber, 13, and the edgeportion, 15, of the tang of the tongue, 2, thereby holding the crooked inner edge, 12, of the tang tightly against the similarly crooked bottom-wall, 8, of the recess, and preventing any movement of withdrawal of the tang from the recess.

By a reverse rotative movement of the key, 14;, it can be withdrawn into the chamber, 13, thus permitting a sufficient separation of the crooked side-edge, 12, of the tang from the similarly crooked bottom, 8, of the recess to enable the tang to be withdrawn from the recess. The body and tongue can thus be securely locked together when it is desired to use the device as a square, and, when not in such use, the body and tongue can be easily separated and superimposed upon, and arranged parallel with, one another, for convenience in transportation or storage in a tool-box.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is y l. A square composed of separable members, one having a tang and the other provided witha recess adapted to receive said tang, and with a chamber opening into said recess, and an oblong rotatively iioating-key loosely confined within said chamber and adapted in one rotary position to simultaneously engage the outer wall of said chamber and said tang through said chamvided with a recess adapted to receive said tang, and with a chamber opening into said recess, and with an aperture extending through a side-wall of said recess into said chamber, and a detachable key rotatively confined in said chamber adapted in one rotary position to simultaneously engage the outer wall thereof, and through said opening a surface on said tang parallel with the sides of the tang-bearing member, said key being provided with means whereby it can be operated throughvsaid aperture in said recesswall.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 23d day of March, 1909.

LLEWELLYN W. COLE.

lVitnesses C. S. MA'rTrsoN, IRWIN MA'r'rrsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

